Editor's note: This article was edited Oct. 1, 2012 to clarify printed information about Academic Challenge Scholarship eligibility. Students who don't complete the Smart Core are eligible for the Challenge Scholarship given certain requirements. View the full list of requirements at www.ADHE.edu for more information.

The Smart Core Curriculum is the college preparatory curriculum suggested by the Arkansas Department of Education. Not only is this curriculum designed to ensure college and career readiness, for most students it’s required that students complete all courses in Smart Core in order to be eligible for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship.

Not set to complete the Smart Core? Don't sweat — students graduating before the 2013-14 school year who didn't complete the Smart Core course plan are still eligible if they achieve at least a 2.5 high school GPA and either score a 19 or equivalent score on the ACT or score proficient or higher on all state-mandated end-of-course assessments.

It’s important that high school students and parents work closely with guidance counselors to monitor academic progress to meet the requirements of the Smart Core Curriculum, and it’s particularly important to double-check progress before the beginning of the senior year in high school, when any last minute schedule changes can be made.

Parents do have the option to opt out of Smart Core, but keep in mind students who do not complete this curriculum will not be eligible for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship and will be less ready for college coursework. And since the curriculum follows a four-year plan, it's very difficult to opt back in late in high school.

Source: Arkansas Department of Education